Page 21

12

Lotta was in high spirits. Seeing Alec Fletcher step out of the carriage was perhaps the sweetest moment of her life. It taught Fiona a lesson that she should end up with a man like him, while Lotta managed to get the real prize. If Fiona had just been more proactive and willing to accept the responsibilities as the eldest daughter of the clan, then this could have been avoided, and Lotta wouldn’t have had to go to these lengths. Fiona always boasted of her strength and her prowess with a sword. Well, Lotta could fight too, and on her battlefield, she had no equal.

But now, finally, things were beginning to fall into place for her. She had a husband-to-be who was strapping and mighty, and since she would stay in this clan, she could even make a play for power when Laird Callan grew older. Fiona would be shuffled off to be forgotten in the Fletcher clan with her weak husband and their undoubtedly weak children. When Lotta’s parents had died, she thought she would never have anything again, but now she was going to end up with everything, all because Fiona was selfish and shortsighted. Lotta chuckled as she thought about Alec Fletcher. The limping, stammering man was not the kind of man that any woman dreamed of. It would be humbling for Fiona to be his wife, and that just made everything better for Lotta.

For most of the day, she was speaking with other people, for they were overjoyed at the news of the marriage as well. Laird Fletcher, especially, was beaming, most likely because he knew how difficult it was to get anyone to marry his son. The Fletcher land was not appealing to many people, and his son wasn’t handsome enough to make up for their lack of riches. It just happened to be an opportune time to take advantage of Laird Callan’s paranoia.

To plant seeds for the future, Lotta sidled up to him and spoke quietly.

“It must be an emotional time for ye, tae be preparing for Fiona tae leave,” she said.

“Aye,” Laird Callan replied with a heavy sigh, “it is indeed, but it is time. It is only right that she should marry and forge a life for herself. It is the way of things. I just wish that she was happier about it, that’s all.”

“I’m sure she will be fine once she gets used tae the idea. Besides, I hae never known Fiona tae be happy unless she’s out there on the training field with a sword in her hand, and she should hae known she could nae spend her life daeing that,” Lotta said.

“I suppose, but life haes been hard on her since her ma died. I’ve only ever wanted tae give her the best life I possibly could,” he said.

“And ye hae.” Lotta reached out and placed a hand on Laird Callan’s arm, squeezing it reassuringly. “Ye hae done everything a da should dae. Ye hae given her a future, a husband, a chance tae hae a family. I know it was something my da always wished he could give me. When I was a wee girl, he told me that one day he would arrange a marriage for me with the handsomest man in the Highlands, and he would give me everything I could ever want. It was a sad day when he died because he never got tae live up tae his vow, but he would be happy tae know that ye hae done it for me. I want tae think ye deeply for all ye hae done for me. I’m sae grateful, and I know that deep down Fiona is as well. She will see the wisdom of what ye are daeing eventually, even if it is a wee sudden change tae her at the moment.”

Laird Callan smiled. “Ye are a sweet girl, Lotta. I’m sure ye are right. It’s a lot tae get used tae, though. I know the clan will be stronger because of it, but tae think of her nae being around any longer…”

“She will nae be far away. I’m sure ye can visit her often. And if things gae the way they seem tae be gaeing, our two clans will become one anyway. Ye know that Varrik and I would be able tae watch over things here whenever ye want tae spend time with Fiona,” Lotta said.

Laird Callan nodded. “He haes proven himself tae be a strong presence in the clan. I was nae entirely sure what tae expect for him when he first arrived. He is certainly loyal tae his people.”

“Aye, and it can only be tae our benefit when he sees all of us as his people. With the Vikings defending us and an alliance with Laird Fletcher, there is no doubt that anyone will think twice before daring tae attack us. The future is bright for our clan, and it is all thanks tae ye, Laird Callan. Dinnae worry tae much about Fiona. She haes never been one tae shirk her duty. Ye hae raised her well, and she will dae all she can for the clan.”

Laird Callan nodded away happily, soothed by Lotta’s words. He failed to see the spite behind her smile, though. It was almost too easy for her to get what she wanted, not that she didn’t deserve it. Things could have been so different if Fiona had just done as Lotta had asked. All she had to do was get married to some handsome man somewhere in the Highlands, and then Lotta would have been free to do as she pleased. But now, Fiona had to be stubborn and prevent Lotta from doing anything. It was all so absurd, really. Lotta didn’t feel guilty about it at all because, as far as she was concerned, Fiona had left her no choice.

While she sat beside Laird Callan, Lotta thought of the future and the life she was going to have with Varrik. Their children would be strong and beautiful. She would never have to worry about a thing because she would have everything she needed here, and with Fiona living elsewhere, she would be Laird Callan’s sweet child until the time came for her to exert her power and take over the clan entirely. It wasn’t a bad way to end up, all things considered. Going from an orphan to leading a clan was the stuff dreams were made of, and Lotta had a lot of time to enjoy her victory. She basked in the adulation and the good mood of the clan, for plenty of people congratulated her as well as Fiona, but then she longed to see her soon-to-be husband.

Varrik had proven to be an elusive man over the past few days. She had hoped that the announcement of their betrothal would lead to him wanting to spend a lot more time with her. She wasn’t blind; she had seen the way he looked at Fiona, and it only made her victory all the sweeter. But soon, Fiona would be gone, and she would win Varrik’s heart. She was half Viking, after all. They were made to be together, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Varrik might not have been enthused about the marriage yet, but he would be soon. In fact, she thought about hunting him down right now and giving him a glimpse of the future that awaited him. He was just like any other man in most respects, and there were some things that a man could not resist. She burned with desire to be near him, and she didn’t think there was anything wrong in getting a brief taste, considering they were betrothed.

Lotta looked all over the village for him. She began in the training field when she couldn’t see him among the sea of faces in the main area of the village, but he wasn’t there. She asked some of the other Vikings if they had seen him, but they merely shrugged and went back to talking amongst themselves. She furrowed her brow as she went to Elsie’s in case he had gotten hungry, but he wasn’t there either. She wondered for a moment if he had gone hunting, so she went to the stables to see if any horses were missing. If so, then she could try and hunt him down, for he couldn’t have gone far. She smirked to herself at the thought of catching him in the woods alone, of how she would sneak up to him and then fall with him into the soft grass. She was certain that after experiencing her sweet kisses, he would think of nothing else apart from her.

Then she reached the stables. She heard some muffling sounds from behind them, and they weren’t the sounds of horses at all. After rounding the corner, she stopped dead in her tracks. The color drained from her face. Her jaw dropped as she witnessed Varrik and Fiona locked in a passionate embrace. Their arms were wrapped around each other tightly, and he had her pinned against their wall. They groaned and writhed, and it didn’t seem as though there was anything that could separate them. She thought about beating them and pulling them apart, but what would that accomplish? Damn Fiona…she just couldn’t let Lotta have anything! Lotta’s heart burned with envy, and she wasn’t about to let this slight go unpunished.

Rage fueled every step as she marched away. Her sister and her betrothed were so lost in each other that they didn’t notice her presence at all. The rest of the world was invisible to them, but she would make it so that their secret was not hidden from the world. This was a transgression that could not be forgiven.

Lotta stormed through the village back to where Laird Fletcher was sitting with Alec. They were talking closely with each other. Lotta’s eyes were filled with tears because the future she had begun to build for herself was threatening to be torn apart. Fiona always got everything she wanted, but not this time. Lotta wasn’t going to suffer through losing everything again.

“Laird Fletcher, please—may I have a private word with ye?” she asked. She was unable to keep her voice from trembling with anger. Laird Fletcher nodded and rose. She pulled him aside. “I didnae want tae say this in front of yer son for fear it may upset him, but I just saw something terrible, something that might change everything.”

“What? What is it, lass?” he asked, becoming more concerned for her as she was visibly shaken.

Yet even in her vulnerable, shaken state, she hadn’t lost the ability to manipulate. “I just, I almost dinnae want tae tell ye because it paints my sister in a bad light. I want tae believe that there’s another explanation for this, but I just cannae. I cannae…”

“What? Please, Lotta, tell me what’s gaeing on.”

Lotta pretended that she needed to take a few deep breaths to compose herself before she continued. “I…I was walking past the stables when I saw her…her and Varrik. They were…oh, Laird…they were kissing! I wish I could say that I haed seen something else or that I was mistaken, but it was as plain as day. Fiona and Varrik were being intimate, and I dinnae understand why!”

The last words were a cry as they fled from her lips. Laird Fletcher’s face changed immediately. He had been concerned for Lotta when she came to him, but now he flared with anger. He trembled as he processed the awful truth, and then he stepped away from her, raising his hand through the air sharply.

“Bring him tae me! Bring me that Viking!” he thundered, getting the attention of everyone else in attendance. The conversations stopped; people stared at him as though he had gone mad.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Laird Callan asked.

Laird Fletcher’s words were as sharp as knives. “Wee Lotta here just told me something troubling about the Viking and yer daughter. I want tae speak tae them tae see if it’s true. I will nae stand here and be humiliated like this,” he said. He clapped his hands and ordered people to go to the stables and bring Varrik and Fiona to him.